Seattle police: DNA, bullets link suspect to officer death

SEATTLE — Investigators say DNA and ballistics tests conclusively link a suspect shot by detectives last week to the Halloween night slaying of a Seattle police officer as well as what they are now describing as an attempted hit on law enforcement nine days earlier.

Seattle Assistant Chief Jim Pugel told a news conference that DNA belonging to Christopher Monfort, 41, was found on a small American-flag-style bandanna discovered on the ground near where Officer Timothy Brenton was shot and killed and officer-trainee Britt Sweeney was wounded.

In addition, Pugel said Monfort’s DNA was discovered on a small flag found at a city maintenance yard where four police vehicles were firebombed. Pugel says investigators are now characterizing that attack as an an attempted assassination. According to police, a fire in a mobile command post was set first, apparently to attract officers, and after they arrived, the cruisers exploded.